Tillman, Fox Searchlight meet at “Stephon’s Corner”

Fox Searchlight is rendezvousing with State Street Pictures at Stephon’s Corner, an vigilante thriller written by Pat Gilfillan. George Tillman Jr. will be serve as both director and producer, along with partner Bob Teitel, Rene Rigal, and Kathy Lingg producing alongside.

The film sounds actually kind of kick-ass. After the justice system fails two single mothers whose children die from useless acts of violence, they get all “Dirty Harry” on the streets, seeking revenge by starting a killing spree in the ‘hoods of Chicago against those responsible. If they cast Pam Grier, this automatically becomes the most anticipated film of 2007. (Well this and There Will Be Blood).

The film is a complete 180 from the usual Tillman fare. Tillman made millions producing the Barbershop series and all its incarnations. He also directed Soul Food and the Cuba Gooding Jr./Robert DeNiro vehicle in Men of Honor. Tillman has no less than five projects in development, both as producer and director. Most notable of the bunch is Six Shooters, a Civil War-era action/caper film that Guy Ritchie was originally supposed to direct. Also on deck is an adaptation of John Ridley’s novel A Conversation with the Mann and the Hollywood cautionary tale Frontin’.